A violent clash between some military men and some
worshippers in Southern Kaduna yesterday led to the death of
no fewer than six people. Many others were injured.
The soldiers allegedly shot security guards of St. Peters
Catholic Church Gidan-Waya area of Jama’a local
government in Kaduna State who mounted a temporary stop
and search check point in front of their church during
service.
According to a man who simply identified himself as
Christopher, a residence of Gidan-Waya, “the clash occured
at about 10am when church service was on. A soldier
approached the church’s watch men popularly known as Cadet
and ordered them to dismantle the temporary check point during
the church service, but the boys refused the order on the
argument that church service was ongoing and that they would
do as soon as service was over, but the soldier was dissatisfied
with the explanation.
The soldier reportedly went back and mobilised his
colleagues who came and started firing at the local guards.
“The gunshots ended the church service. Women and youths
immediately reacted to the shooting by confronting the soldiers
as a result of which one Soldier and three civilians were
injured,” said Christopher.
The situation led to a clash between residents and soldiers.
Another eye witness said a block of flat at a staff quarters
belonging to Kaduna State college of Education Gidan- Waya
occupied by the military personnel, was burnt with two guns
carted away.
According to a resident who identified himself as Bulbs
Jatau: “Six people were killed, a flat occupied by some army
personnel burnt while many people were injured.”
Similarly, a lecturer at the college who pleaded anonymity
said a 200-level student was among the people killed by
bullets.
“A soldier has a motorcycle he uses as a means of
transportion. The cadet boys manning the Church during Mass
had told him that each time there is Church programme, he
should not increase the acceleration of his motorcycle but he
refused to abide by what the boys told him.
“Today, he was passing during church Mass and the road was
closed. He started shouting at the boys asking why they
blocked the road, as the argument was ongoing, he returned to a
check-point and mobilised other army personnel and they came
shooting.
“As they were shooting, a certain man coming back from
another church was hit by the bullet and he died instantly. One
of the cadet boys was shot but he died at a hospital,” said the
lecture.
Another eyes witness said youth and women of the community
were protesting naked, mobile policemen were mobilised from
Kafanchan shot tear-gas to disperse the protesters.
“The incident also turned violent as four people also dropped
dead when the protesters blocked all roads leading to Abuja,
Jos and Kafanchan in protest of the killing. All the checkpoints
in the area have been dismantled and the military men have
been withdrawn to Kafanchan. The soldiers have told the
traditional ruler that they will come back in the night to search
for their guns,” another resident told our correspondent.
Spokesman of the 1 Mechanised Division, Kaduna, Col.
Abdul Usman did not respond to calls and text message as
at the time of filling this report.
Survivors of the clash are receiving medical attention at a State
General Hospital. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL AND TOUCHING NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES BIOGRAPHY AND SCANDALS
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